SSS-Knight in a Hero World-Chapter 91: Baby steps

The imagery of death became blurry for a couple hours that night. Never once did the thought of ghosts entered Felix’s mind as he talked with his comrades.

It wasn’t going to last forever of course and he knew that and yet, he never posed any of the important questions that any person would ask. What was the afterlife like? Or how did it feel to die?

All of that precious time that he had been given a second chance at, Felix spent all of it bonding and catching up one last time.

Well, maybe except the 1% of time left to ask some key questions he couldn’t help but ask in the end. However, when he asked those, he was left with even more questions.

They didn’t know.

Every single second Felix talked to them felt real and not only that, they even knew details that Felix and only them knew, so they must be real. But there’s also the question of them acknowledging his presence while the other apparitions didn’t seem to.

Would his real friends lie to him?

I’d still like to believe this is all real. Felix thought before making his remaining time count. "Are you sure? Did you hit your head on the way to heaven or something?"

He asked one of the knights, but they all laughed it off except Felix.

But not wanting to leave their captain confused, one of them spoke up. "We really don’t know how to answer those questions, Captain. Actually... to put it into better words, it’s like the answer is on the tip of my tongue, but I just can’t seem to, y’know? Translate it into something I can actually say."

Felix tilted his head. "Is that right?" he asked the rest of them.

Some nodded, some made confused faces, and some shook it off as if it was too complex for them to even think about.

I have a lot to ask of Eos.

Felix went silent and hunched over in thought. Might as well ask a few more questions even if they don’t know. "Hey, I was wondering if—

?"

When he looked up, he saw that they had all started looking in a certain direction. But it wasn’t only them, as he soon found out that every figure was looking the same way.

That’s where I left Eos. Felix was about to leave immediately, but he wouldn’t do so without saying his farewell.

Although, he was a bit hesitant to speak up, since the sight of everyone suddenly becoming like statues was a strange one.

Fortunately, one of the knights noticed that their captain was staring a bit too closely at them. "Oh, this is, uh..."

The knight bit his words for a bit before speaking properly this time. "I think we have to go now. Sorry that we’re leaving you again. Send our regards to everyone at our order."

The other knights broke off from their trance as well, and said their farewells.

"Goodbye, Sir Felix."

In the end, they still addressed him as a knight. He wasn’t sure if he was supposed to feel proud or disappointed that they added a sir. "Haha... just Felix is enough."

But if they wanted to address him as a knight, then he should also say his farewell, addressing them as knights one last time. "I hereby discharge you all from duty..."

Felix lingered for a bit, carefully picking his last words.

"I say this as your friend. Rest well, and be happy in what’s to come for you all next."

Felix crooked a smile as he got the last goodbyes sent. "Goodbye."

There was a swirling buildup of essence within their hearts as the knights drifted away into nothing but dust of light. Everyone around Felix did the same thing, as they all went towards the glowing tree like a cloud.

They’re moving slow. I can overtake them and head back to the tree first.

Just like before, albeit a tiny bit slower this time. Felix quickly ran back towards Eos, slowing down near the end so that he wouldn’t crash into her like a speeding wagon, unlike what he did to his friend just a few hours ago.

They haven’t turned to dust here yet...

Felix weaved through the apparitions, stopping by once in a while if he spotted notable figures, but never too long.

Even with all the hustle and bustle of people along the way, it wasn’t hard to find the single glowing tree in the distance.

As he walked closer and closer, he pondered on what to ask the elf, or rather, how to thank her for what she had done for him.

No... I’ll thank her properly as a knight, then ask questions. Felix decided.

As Felix was about to step into the empty patch of grass that had the small hill in the center, he halted his steps when he saw Eos talking with two figures.

Squinting his eyes, he was able to determine that they were elves.

It must be her parents. Felix remembered how the two first met each other. Now that I remember, she hasn’t apologized for kicking me away and burning my eyes...

Felix waited patiently for the three to finish. Meanwhile, he looked back once in a while to see the glowing cloud slowly making its way towards the tree.

Eventually, it engulfed the entire area surrounding it.

Walking up the hill, Felix saw Eos hugging her parents before they too drifted away.

"Eos?"

The elf turned and was surprised. "Oh, yes. Were you able to meet them?" she said, wiping something off her eyes.

"I did."

"Then—

Before Eos could continue her sentence, Felix wasted no second to kneel in front of her, this time as a proper knight. "Thank you, Miss Eos. Tell me anything that I can do that can repay my debt to you."

There was not an ounce of shame on his face or in his voice as he waited for her answer, whatever it may be, or how ridiculous it might be.

"Stand up and look at me. That’s all I need."

Felix did as he was told and smiled. "Are you sure that’s all?"

Eos nodded. "You did more for me before. Without you, this would have never been accomplished."

I don’t understand... but sure. Felix thought, and thought even more. I don’t think I can ask questions yet...

While staring silently at Eos, there was another buildup of essence. This time, it was the tree.

Its leaves grew and kept growing even more than second ago. Its leaves bulked in size, and so did its stems and brightness. But instead of drooping down, it ascended upwards, as if the leaves were acting like balloons. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

He couldn’t help but admire the sight, but also be disappointed that it would probably end soon.

"It’s not over yet, Felix," Eos said, as if she knew what was going on inside his head.

She offered her hand to Felix, palm side up.

"There’s more?" Felix said, but didn’t question it as he accepted her hand.

"How good are you with essence control?"

"...Good enough to not die young?" he answered jokingly, though he was serious.

"This is a technique passed down through my royal bloodline. Think of it as a reward."

Almost instantly, Felix was taken aback. Royal bloodline?!

To think his depression would start from an elven royal and end with one. But no matter how weird it was, he wouldn’t pass on techniques only certain people had access to.

"I won’t tell you its name, but remember its feeling."

"Its feeling—woah!"

Eos dragged Felix along the ascending leaves.

Each of her steps made contact with the glowing leaves as she ran upwards, while Felix’s entire body simply flailed around like a ragdoll as it phased through everything.

But Felix remained composed internally.

The essence is dense around here, but how is she interacting with pure essence?

Swordsmen could create essence blades that interacted with physical bodies. Mages turned essence into tangible magic.

In short, people needed to turn essence into something that could exist, something that affected reality.

Even though essence was found everywhere and could be detected easily, it didn’t really affect the daily lives of ordinary people. Pure essence couldn’t be managed directly, and yet Eos was doing it.

These leaves are essence without a doubt. Could it be their properties are different compared to normal essence found anywhere else?

"Hang tight."

Whoosh!

With a massive impact, Eos leapt upwards and ascended to the stars without the need to step on the glowing tree.

Never mind, it’s not the tree! Felix corrected his false assumption.

"...Oh my days."

Felix closed his eyes at the sight of the world getting smaller below them. "I’m not usually afraid of heights, but this is simply too much, Eos!" Felix pleaded.

However, he was met with the elf’s laughter. "We’re already here. Open your eyes."

Slowly, Eos stopped ascending and stood on top of the world, while Felix dangled from her hand like a monkey.

Despite his fears, he opened his eyes, but immediately looked up at Eos with a puppy-like expression.

"Stop dawdling and focus. I’ll help you with essence detection. It’s easy, just trust me."

"I trust your arm muscles more than your words," he whimpered.

She wants me to detect essence? I’ve been doing that all my life. What’s so different—

"!!!"

Surprisingly, there was a difference indeed.